/
Translated by Raizu Edited by Schwartz13
Shortly after that, a carriage from the Elbaite Palace came to pick Connie up.
Connie bowed her head in dejection as she curled up in the corner of the luxurious carriage with a long pile carpet. It seems that she has become self-loathing right now. When she put her crossed hands against her eyes and looked down, Connie and Scarlett started talking random nonsense to each other. When she looked able to answer appropriately, she was asked again.
『Hey, Connie』
[What is it now
]
『Do you know if Jackal’s paradise is banned now?』
[In the first place, I don’t even know anything about Jackal’s paradise
]
『It’s a kind of hallucinogen. It was very popular because it was said that it can make you feel like you are in heaven with only a few side effects.』
Connie blinked and suddenly raised her head.
[――――Currently, the use of hallucinogens is completely prohibited. So there’s no way I would use it, ever]
Connie firmly insisted on this delinquent woman, whose appearance alone is of the finest quality. Scarlet’s fresh lips crooked sharply.
『Oh, boring.』
[Scarlet

!]
『Because it was legal in my time. I think everyone was using it back then. But I was physically ill-fitted with it. I just can’t stand the sweet smell of boiled honey from that flower. Ah, that’s right, speaking of Jackal’s paradise――――』
As if interrupting Scarlet’s words, the wheels suddenly stopped moving. The horse neighed cheerfully. A short time later, a passing coachman’s voice announced their arrival at the Palace.
=====
[―――Miss Grail.]
After completing the formalities at the main gate of the Moldavite Palace, Connie was about to head to the detached palace when a young man in a black military uniform called out to her. Randolph Ulster, of course. He received an invitation from Cecilia saying, “If you like, bring your fiancĂ© with you” .
For some reason, Connie felt a strange tingle in her body when meeting Randolph again after a long time.
[Oh, um
! Thank you for the other day
!]
Hearing that stutter from Connie, Randolph tilted his head blankly.
[What for?]
―――Connie’s eyes widened for a moment at this exchange, which had already happened several times, and then she smiled wryly. As she did, the thread of tension unravelled. Connie said while loosening her lips.
[The inquest. I heard from Duchess O’Brian that Your Excellency requested her to help me.]
[Ah, that’s right. Deborah Dalkian is the type who laughs and insists that white is black if it suits her. She’s not someone that can be dealt with through rationale. To deal with her, the same amount of authority must be used. It just so happens that Abigail has a faction that is on par with Deborah. It’s good to take care of you.]
Then, he cast his gaze at Connie.
[Abby actually resembles you a bit, doesn’t she?]
Randolph’s face was as expressionless as usual, but there’s something about his deep blue eyes that made Connie feel like he was teasing her―――or so she thought.
[Resemble
?]
There is no way she can fight Deborah Dalkian like Abigail did, even if she had to do everything until she’s upside down, right? So which part makes Connie and Abigail resemble each other? While Connie was tilting her head in confusion, Scarlett opened her mouth as if she didn’t care.
『He is as dour as ever, isn’t he?』
Connie just didn’t understand.
=====
When Connie was walking with Randolph through a symmetrical maze-like garden centred on a fountain in order to head for the Erbaite Palace, she heard something that sounded like an angry voice coming from somewhere.
When she turned her head in the direction of the voice, she saw a nervous-looking middle-aged man about a block away, questioning young people about the age of his son in a strong tone. Connie couldn’t hear the content of the conversation, but the people who were being reprimanded were all pitifully pale.
[Isn’t that
Senior Diplomat Levine?]
Randolph muttered, so Connie looked up to him so that he would explain.
[Kendall Levine. An envoy from Faris. And others seem to be his subordinates. I’ve seen them around.]
“I see,” Connie nodded. It must be the person Enrique was angry with at the Elbaid Palace the other day. If she remembered correctly, the arrival on the other side was delayed or something. They appear to have safely arrived in the palace now.
Kendall Levine noticed the pair when Connie was wondering if it would be a good idea to say hello. Pale auburn eyes, pale grey hair――――And, unfortunately, his hairline has receded quite a bit.
When he noticed Connie’s gaze, he quickly hid his voice. After that, he gave a signal to his subordinates with his chin to move to the other side of the green grass fence, avoiding the eyes of onlookers.
―――what?
『Oh, it’s been a long time.』
Scarlet let out a slurred voice.
『Sneaky, sneaky, hiding or something. Wonder what you are talking about――― I’ll be there for a while』
[Eh!? Hey, stop Scarlett
!]
Of course, there was no way that Constance could stop her, as Scarlet flew up and disappeared beyond the fence. Connie could only drop her head.
[What happened?]
Randolph, who was watching the situation, tilted his head suspiciously.
[No, umm, Scarlett――]
Connie put her hand on her forehead as she spoke but suddenly stopped. She already told His Excellency Grim Reaper about Scarlet. However.
―――did he actually believe her?
She fearfully looked up at his face, wondering what to do if those deep blue eyes showed a hint of ridicule or suspicion. But there were only eyes that looked like the same blue sky without a single cloud in sight.
[What happened to Scarlet Castiel?]
Connie blinked her eyes involuntarily.
[Um
she went to eavesdrop on what diplomat Levine is talking about
]
“Ah,” Randolph nodded.
[That’s a good idea.]
Connie stared absent-mindedly as he said that as if nothing had happened and shifted his gaze to the envoys.
[
Miss Grail?]
[Ah, no
]
Perhaps she had a terribly stupid expression on her face. Randolph looked at Connie curiously. Somehow, it made her feel terribly restless.
===== ◇◇◇
『It looks like one of their fellows is missing.』
When Scarlet came back, she looked as if their conversation wasn’t what she expected.
『I believe the missing person is called Ulysses. It appears that his disappearance is causing trouble for them. I don’t know who he is, but this man seems to be a nuisance.』
Then, she shrugged her shoulders as if she had lost interest.
[Did you learn something?]
Probably guessing that Scarlet had returned judging from Connie’s attitude, Randolph asked. Connie explained what she just heard.
[Of the group that came with diplomat Levine, it seems that someone named Ulysses has gone missing―――]
Hearing that, Randolph’s eyebrows jumped up.
[Ulysses?]
[Do you know him?]
[I don’t, and I didn’t know if he’s in Adelbaid, but―――]
His deep blue eyes wavered as if he was pondering something.
[
..If that old man was so angry just because they lost track of this person, then it can only be one possibility.]
While saying that, he cast a stern gaze in their earlier direction.
[Ulysses Faris.―――The Seventh Prince of Faris.]
Read only at Travis Translations